Home » News & Events » Most Reverend, Bishop William C. Skurla Enthroned as Archbishop of Pittsburgh and as the fifth Metropolitan of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America

Most Reverend, Bishop William C. Skurla Enthroned as Archbishop of Pittsburgh and as the fifth Metropolitan of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America

MUNHALL, PA -- His Eminence, Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla was enthroned on April 18, 2012 as the fifth Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and head of the Byzantine Catholic (Ruthenian) Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Munhall, Pa.

His Eminence, Metropolitan William was installed by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the representative of Pope Benedict XVI in the United States. He was joined at the altar by the Byzantine Catholic Bishops of the Eparchies of Parma, Ohio and Phoenix Arizona, Bishop John (Kudrick) and Bishop Gerald (Dino), Byzantine Catholic archbishops from Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine, Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik,and Roman Catholic bishops from other Pennsylvania cities.

In attendance, representing the Orthodox faithful of the Greater Pittsburgh, PA region, were His Eminence, Metropolitan Constantine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and His Grace, Bishop Melchizidek of the Diocese of Western PA of the Orthodox Church in America. Bishops from the Anglican, Episcopal and Lutheran churches also were in attendance.

The newly enthroned Metropolitan, expressed his desire to bring about a spiritual renewal of the Byzantine Church and especially her youth.

"After years of study and planning, the work begins today," he said. "We have to inspire our young and revitalize our leaders to give their lives unconditionally to serve the Lord, the savior Jesus Christ. No matter how the world changes in the future, we will find a way to bring our young people and those who have gone astray to renewed faith."

Metropolitan William, 55, is a Minnesota native who previously served as bishop of two other Byzantine eparchies in Phoenix and Passaic, N.J

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh has 58,000 Catholics in seven states from Pennsylvania to Texas. Metropolitan William also oversees three other dioceses across the nation.